Chrysanthemum plant named Penny Lane

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Penny Lane particularly characterized by its light pink ray floret color and contrasting, generally dark orange disc florets; nine week response; anemone capitulum; and, excellent flower production.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema morifolium, Ramat.,previously Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., and referred to by thecultivar name Penny Lane.

Penny Lane is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new Chrysanthemum cultivars with anemone capitulumwith a dark colored center similar to a gerbera, nine weeks response,and the ability to produce commercially acceptable quality in yeararound cut mum programs. Such traits in combination were not present orneeded improvement in previously available commercial cultivars.

Penny Lane was originated from a hybridization made in a controlledbreeding program in De Lier, The Netherlands in 1981. The female parentwas Cherub. The male parent of Penny Lane was a first generation hybridobtained by crossing Augusta×Leimonias. Penny Lane was discovered andselected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated crossby Jacques C. M. Van der Knaap in June of 1982, in a controlledenvironment in De Lier, The Netherlands.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Penny Lane was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in Julyof 1982 in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands by atechnician working under formulations established and supervised byJacques C. M. Van der Knaap. Horticultural examination of selected unitsinitiated in November of 1982 has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for Penny Lane are firmly fixed andare retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Penny Lane has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in De Lier, The Netherlands under greenhouse conditions whichapproximate those generally used in commercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Penny Lane which, in combination,distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Anemone capitulum.

2. Light pink ray floret color, with the disc florets being a relativelydark orange to provide a striking contrast with the ray florets.

3. Nine week response.

4. Excellent flower production per stem.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to Penny Lane is Pound About. In comparison toPound About, Penny Lane has less vigor, a shorter response, more flowersper stem, and a darker colored center. The anemone type and ray floretcolor of Penny Lane are similar to those same characteristics of PoundAbout.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of Penny Lane, the colors being as true asreasonably possible for color photos of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon in November of 1982 under natural daylight at De Lier, The Netherlands.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema morifolium, Ramat., cv Penny Lane.

Commercial.--Anemone spray.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Anemone.

Diameter across face.--30-55 mm.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Very palepink to white.

Color (upper surface).--RHS 56D to white. The very pale pink color ishardly discernible in the color photograph.

Color (under surface).--RHS 155D.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--RHS 174A in very center, surrounded by 173B, with outerring of disc florets being 10C or even lighter at periphery.

Color (immature).--White to pink. Color not discernible in colorphotograph and difficult to specify by color value.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present in disc florets.

Gynoecium.--Present in both disc and ray florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--75 cm.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--RHS 147A.

Color (under surface).--RHS 147B.

Shape.--Lobed and serrated.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Penny Lane, asdescribed and illustrated, and particularly characterized by its lightpink ray floret color and contrasting, generally dark orange discflorets; nine week response; anemone capitulum; and, excellent flowerproduction.